TheI.D.E.A. Store is a non-profit marketplace for the exchange of goods; a craft and reuse items store filled with repurposed art supplies; or perhaps best described as a "craft cabinet" size of store - filled with everything you need to get inspired and get creating.  The store is filled with discards kept from the landfill such as paper, wood, plastic, metal, glass along with stickers, fabric, paint, frames, egg cartons, zippers, beads, maps, yarn, old board games, paperclips, beads, key chains, magnets - at times their inventory seems boundless with countless odds and ends. 

This store is the slightly more formal version of an idea that one of the founders had when she began selling craft and school supplies to teachers out of her garage.  Before opening the store the business team toured the country to visit similar stores, before settling on their unique business model that allows them to give all profits directly to the local K-12 education foundation - The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation.  This is made possible by their staff of volunteers, giving their time and passion to find fun, functional and creative reuse for the materials we often take for granted.

There are lots of ways to get involved with The I.D.E.A. Store! You might:

• Donate your discards
• Volunteer your time
• Take an art and craft workshop
• Host a birthday party
• Participate in open studio time
• GET INSPIRED

*It's a little tricky to find.  Look for the green The I.D.E.A. Store logo.  It's on the second floor at 28 E. Springfield in Champaign, IL so you can either go up the staircase in the center of the little strip mall at Springfield and Water Street or circle around to the back of the strip mall to find handicap access and just a few steps to get into the shop.

Oh, and their hours:  They are open from 12 noon - 7 pm Tuesday through Friday and from 10 am - 3 pm on Saturday.  They take donations during those hours, too.